Sheet-making apparatus



March 11, 1930. A. R. MCARTHUR 1,750,534

SHEET MAKING APPARATUS Filed Malfch 21, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. R. MCARTHUR Filed March 21,1928

SHEET MAKING APPARATUS March 11, 1936.

MAW?

March 11, 1930. A. R. MCARTHUR 1,750,534

SHEET MAKING APPARATUS Filed March 21, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jmeniar:

4/3 War/2 March 11, 1930. MCARTHUR SHEET MAKING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 21, 1928 March 11, 1930. R, MCARTHUR 1,750,534

SHEET MAKING APPARATUS- Filed March 21, 1928 8 Shee ts-Sheet 5' A. R. mAR'rHuR sum mum APPARATUS 'Mmh 11, 1930.

Filed March 192a a Sheets-Sheet e E in; War/fey.

llll lllllllll March 11, 1930. A, R, MCARTHUR 1,750,534

SHEET MAKING APPARATUS Filed March 21, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 /4777UE E #76497/108,

merzbr:

SHEET MAKI NG- APPARATUS 7 Filed March 21, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 46TH? E. M flerHue,

Q m & i Z 3 g E I [menlozv Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED s'rArEs YPIATENTQOFFICE ARTHUR R. MCARTHUR, OF GARY, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T AMERICAN SHEET AND TIN PLATE COMPANY, 01 PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY l SHEET-MAKING APPARATUS Application filed March 21, 1928. Serial No. 263,572.

This invention relates to the manufacture ofrolled metal sheets and more particularly to a novel combination of heating furnace, hot mill, mechanical feeder-and mechanical 6 catcher, whereby the sheets may be automatically handled and rolled.

Heretofore, it has been the general practice to manually remove the sheet blanks from the heating furnace and throw them across the floor to a point adjacent the hot mill, then the roller would graspthe heated blanks and feed them through the hot mill.

The rolled blanks would then be received by a second operator, known as the catcher, and

the catcher would lift the rolled blank over the mill to the roller who would again feed the blank through the mill. This operation would be repeateda until the blank was reduced in thickness nd lengthened to finished size, and the catcher would then pile the finished sheet.

The present invention provides a novel arrangement of mechanism whereby the blanks are mechanically handled from the time they enter the heating furnace until they are piled, thus eliminating substantially all the manual labor heretofore necessary in the operation of a hot mill.

Figure 1 is ,a plan view, partly in section,

of a rolling mill having the mechanism of this invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the conveyer table.

Figure 4 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the feeder mechanism.

Figure 6 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 7 is a rear elevation thereof.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the sheet catching mechanism. Figure 9 is a plan view of the mechanism of Figure 8. I

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional detail through the rear pair of pinch-rolls which feed the sheets onto the catcher table, showing the brake mechanism. I

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional detail 50 taken on the line XI-XI of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a wiring diagram showing motor control circuits for the catcher.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,.the letter A designates a heating furnace of the continuous type which heats the sheet blanks and delivers them to a conveyer table B. The table B delivers the heated sheet blanks to a mechanical feeder C which feeds the blanks into the bite of the rolls of the hot mill D.

As the sheets exit from the rolls of the hot mill D they are received by a mechanical catcher E which gages them and, if they are under a predetermined length, returns them over the hot mill to the feeder C, or if they are elongated sufliciently, conveys them forwardly to a pile.

. The furnace A may be of any standard continuous type, the type shown consisting of a heating chamber 2 having a series of spaced conveyor-shafts 3 journaled therein and having disk-type rollers 4 thereon, adapted to convey the blanks being heated through the furnace and to deliver such blanks onto the conveying table B. The operation of the rollers 4 may be automatic or continuous, or their operation may be, and is preferably, controlled by an operator, by means of any standard control, so that the sheet blanks will be delivered when desired.

The table B comprises a series of leg members 6 which support side frame members 7. A series of transverse shaft members 8 are journaled in bearings 9 in the side members 7 and serve to tie the side frame members 7 together While the leg members are tied together by bolts 10. A plurality of disk-type conveying rollers 12 are secured on each of the shafts 8.

The side frame members 7 are divided intermediate their ends so as to. divide the conveyer table into two sections. The forward section of the table is provided with brackets '14 which are journaled on the forwardmost one of the shafts 8 of the rear section, so as to pivotally connect the two table sections. Counterweighted'stifi' arms 15 are secured to'the rear end'of each of the side frame members 7 of the forward table section and have counterweights 16 thereon adapted to substantially counterbalance the forward table section so as to permit said section to lbe readily raised about its pivotal connection with the rear section when desired.

The shafts 8am all'provided with sprockets 17. A sprocket drive-chain 18 is trained over all the sprockets 17 of the rear table section and a second sprocket drive-chain 19 is trained over all the sprockets 17 of the forward pivoted table section. V

The forwardmost shaft 8 of the rear table section and the rearmost shaft 8 of the forward table section are providedwith sprockets 20 and 21, respectively, which are connected by a sprocket chain 22 so that the rollers of bothsections of said table will rotate in unison. The rearmost shaft 8 of the rear table section is extended beyond the one side of the table and is provided with a drivegear 23 which is meshed with a pinion 24 on the drive-shaft 25 of a motor 26.

The mechanical feeder C comprises a chassis or underframe 27 provided with axles 28 and 29 on which are secured flanged wheels 30 ada ted to travel on a track 31 which extends f fom a point adjacent the mill D, rearwardly under the forward section of the conveyer table B.

A pair of side-plates or housing members 32 are secured to the underframe 27 and are of decreasing height from their rear ends toward their forward or mill ends so that their upper faces will be inclined downwardly toward the mill. A plurality or series of conveyer roller-shafts 34 are arranged transversely of the feeder in spaced relation to each other and are j ournaled in bearings 35 mounted in recesses along the tops of the housing members 32. The shafts 34 carry spaced roller-disks 34.

The forward end of the feeder chassis-overhangs or projectsbeyond the forward set of wheels so as to project between the housings 36 of the hot mill D. A pair of standards 37 extend upwardly from each of the side-plates or housing members 32 adjacent the forward end of the feeder, and serve to support a deflecting roller 38 which is journaled in bearings 39 in said standards.

A motor 40 is mounted-on the chassis 27 of the feeder and its armature shaft 41 is provided with a pinion 42 which is meshed with a gear 43 on a jack-shaft 44, WhlCh shaft is also provided with a drive sprocket 45.

The side-plates or housing members 32 have their upper faces inclined at a greater angle from a point adjacent a point above the forward pair of flanged wheels toward their forward ends, and the roller-shafts 34 journaled in this zone are provided with sprockets 46 at a point within the side-plates, which sprockets areconnected by a sprocket drivechain 47. The rearmost roller-shaft of the series having sprockets 46 thereon and the roller-shafts 34 journaled in the remainder ofthe length of the side-plates 32 have one end projected beyond the bearings 35 and sprockets 48 are secured on the extended ends of said shafts. A drive-chain 49 is trained over the sprockets 48 and the drive-sprocket 45 on the j sick-shaft 44. 4

The jack-shaft 44 is provided with a inion 52 which meshes with a gear 53 on a s aft 54 journaled in bearings carried by the sideplates 32. The shaft 54 has a sprocket 55 loosely mounted thereon, which sprocket is connected to a sprocket 56 on the forward axle 29 by a sprocket chain 57 The sprocket 55 is adapted to have a drive connection made with the shaft 54 by a clutch 58 of standard design so as to provide a power drive for propelling the feeder.

A pair of side guide-plates 60 are arranged along the sides of the feeder so as to guide the sheets as they travel over the rollers 34. The guide-plates 60 are secured to nut members 61 which are threaded on right and left-hand threaded portions of shafts 62 journaled in bearings carried by the sideplates 32. The shafts 62 are provided with evel pinions 63 which are meshed with pinions 64 carried by a connecting shaft 65 journaled in brackets 66 on one of the side-plates 32. One of the shafts 62 is provided with a crank-handle 67 by which the shaft may be rotated, and rotation of this shaft will be communicated to the other shaft 62 through;

the pinions 63 and 64 and shaft 65, so that both of the shafts 62 will rotate in unison to adjust the side guides transversely of the feeder.

The hot mill D is of standard design and comprises the housings 36 which have the usual windows 69 in which the rolls 70 are journaled.

The catcher'E comprises a wheeled frame X havin inclined channel-shaped upper side-mem rs 72 and extension side-plates 73 at its forward or mill end.

A pair of pinch rollers 74 and 75 are. journaled'in suitable bearings 76 and 77, respectively, in the side-plates 73 and are adapted to receive the plates as they pass from between the mill rolls 70. A second set of pinch rollers 78 and 79 are journaled in bearings 80 and 82, respectively, in the side-plates 73.

The upper bearings 76 and 80 for the upper the lower pinch roller'75 by a chain so as to normally drive the" roller 75 in a clockwise direction. The upper pinch roller 74 is in frictional engagement with the roller 75 so that the roller 74 will be driven in a counterclockwise direction. The roller 74 is provided with a drive-sprocket 91 which is con nected to a sprocket 92 on a plate return roller 93 by a chain 94. The roller 93 is journaled in fixed bearings in the side-plates 73 and is adapted to aid in conveying the plates over the rolls when they ,are returned by the catcher. a

The roller 93 is provided with a second sprocket 95 which is connected by a chain 96 with a sprocket 97 on the upper pinch roller.

From the above it will be readily seen that the sin le motor 84 seiives to drive the pair of pinc rollers 74 and 75, the conveying or plate return roller 93, and the upper roller 78 of the pair of pinch rollers 78 and 79.

A plate supporting idler roller 99 is journaled in the side-plates 73 between the pairs of pinch rollers and serves to support the hot plate as it passes from one pair of pinch rollers to the other. I

A second plate supporting idler roller 100 is journaled'above and forward of the upper pinch roller 74 to support the plate as it passes over the upper mill roll 70.

A plurality of conveyer rollers Y are arranged in spaced relation along the inclined side members 72 of the frame X and are composed of shafts 102 journaled in bearings 103 on the side members 72 and having disks 104 secured thereon. 4

A reversing motor 105 is mounted on the frame X and is provided with a pinion 105 which meshes with a car 105 on a shaft 106,

which shaft is provi ed with a sprocket 106" which is connected by a drive chain 107 with s rockets 108 and 109 on,-the shafts 102 of t e two rearmost conveying rollers Y. The

next-to-the-rearmost .conveyer roller shaft 102 is provided 'with a sprocket 110 and each of the other conveyer shafts 102 are provided of said conveyer rollers Y'to be rotated in with pairs of sprockets 111, which sprockets are connected by chains 112 so as to cause all the same direction b said single motor 105. The motor 105 is a apted to normally drive or rotate the rollers Ytoward the mill or in a counter clockwise direction so as to return the plates over the rolls 7 0.

In order to automatically gage the length of the plates and to run the full length or finished plates away from the mill, means are provided for automatically reversing the motor 105.

The automatic reversing means comprises a shaft extension 115 'on the lower or idler pinch roller 79 on which is mounted apinion 116 which is in mesh with a rack 117 slidably "mounted for vertical movement in a guideway 118. The rack 117 is adapted to engage and trip a vertically adjustable switch 119 when the rack is elevated a sufiicient'distance by the inion 116 as the idler roller 79 is rotated w en a plate passesbetween the rollers 78 and 79.

The tripping of the switch 119 is adapted to energize an electric reversing control mechanism designated generally by the numeral 120. The control 120 is standard design and is shown in detail in the wiring diagram of Figure 12.

hen the switch 119 is tripped it will energize the solenoid 121 which will operate the switch 122 and complete a circuit through the coils 123 of ma netically operated switches 124 which wil operate to reverse the armature circuit of the motor 105.

,The normal or forward circuit to the armature of motor 105 is from the supply line 125 through line 126, through one of the switches 124, line 126, then through the armature of the motor 105, through the line 127 and the other switch 124 to line 128, and back to the other supply'line 129.

When the solenoid 121 has been energized by the tripping of the switch 119 and the switches 124 have been moved into reverse position, a circuit will be completed from supply line 125, through the line 126, switch 124, line 130 and resistance 131, to line 127. then through the armature to line 126 and line 132 and resistance 133, to the second switch 124 and back through line 128 to the other supply line 129.

A standard manually operated switch 135 is provided for completing the circuit from the supply lines 125 and 129, and a second standard switch shown only as a rectangular box 136 is shown secured to the machine frame and is provided for closing the circuit to the motor 84. 1

The solenoid 121 is provided with a dashpot 121 which serves to time the operation of the "switch 122 so said'switch will remain closeduntil the plates have been conveyed off of the catcher.

In order to prevent the lower or'idler pinch roller 79 from overrunning after the plate has passed from between the pinch rollers 78 and 79 and thereby causing the switch 119 to be actuated to reverse the motor 105 before the plate. is rolled to age or length, I have provided a brake on t e roller-shaft.

The brake on the shaft bf roller 79 com prises a ratchet-wheel 140 secured to the shaft of the roller 79 and a brake-drum 141 journaled on the shaft and having a dog 142 arm of a crank-lever 144 pivotally mountedon a shaft 145. A shaft 146 is journaled immediately forward of the pinch rollers 78 and 79 and has a pair of operating tri gers 147 keyed thereon and adapted to be epressed by the plates as they enter between the rollers 78 and 79, so as to rock the shaft 146. A lever 148 is keyed on the shaft 146 and connected by a link 149 to the crank-lever 144. A spring 150 normally tends to force the brake shoe 143 against the brake drum 141.

When the plates approach the pinch rollers 78 and 7 9 they will engage and depress the levers or triggers 147 so as to rock the shaft 146 and thereby move the brake-shoe away from the drum 141, thus permitting the lower pinch roller 79 to rotate since the dog 142 may rotate the drum 141.

As soon as the plate passes thropgh the pinch rollers 78 and 79 the triggers 147 will be released and the spring 150 will snap the brake-shoe 143 against the drum 141, thereby stopping the rotation of the roller 79' in the forward or clockwise direction.

Theroller 79 will be free to move in the reverse direction after the brake-shoe is applied since the dog 142 can ride over the ratchet 140. This free reverse movement will permit the rack 147 to fall to its lower or normal position by gravity in readiness to gage the same plate or the next plate.

It will also be noted that the brake mechanism will prevent any rebound of the rack 147 as it falls by gravity.

The rearmost roller Y, that is, the roller Y nearest the mill end of the catcher, is elevated slightly above the other rollers Y so as to elevate the end of the plates being returned over the mill.

In operation, the heated sheet blanks will be delivered by the heating furnace A onto the conveyer table B, which will convey the heated blanks forwardly and deliver them onto the rollers of ,the mechanical feeder C. The rolls 34 of the feeder are constantly rotating in a clockwise direction or toward the mill D so that when the heated blank is delivered onto the feeder it will be conveyed forwardly and delivered into the bite of the rolls of the hot mill D. The blank will pass through the rolls 70 and onto the catcher E.

As the plates pass from between the mill rolls 70 they will enter into the bite of the pinch rollers 74 and 75, and then into the bite of the pinch rollers 78 and 79. The pinch rollers 78 and 79 will feed the plates onto the conveyer rollers Y which are, if the plates are not rolled to finished length, being rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, or toward the mill, and will consequently reverse the direction of movement of the plates and move them toward the mill.

The rearmost roller Y is elevated above the other rollers Y so that the mill end of the plates being returned toward the mill will be elevated or tilted upwardly so as to engage the upper surface of the rollers 78, 93 and 74, all of which are rotating in a counter-clockwise direction and will, therefore, serve to boost the plates over the top 7 mill roll 7 O which is also rotating in a counter-clockwise direction.

Prior to the rolling of the plates the switch 119 will be adjusted vertically so that the rack 117 will not trip the switch unless the plates are of sufficient length to rotate the idler pinch roller 79 a sufficient number of revolutions to cause the pinion 116 to elevate the rack a predetermined amount.

WVhen the plates or sheets are short of the predetermined length for which the switch 119 is set, they will be returned over the mill D and be deflected onto the feeder rolls 34" by the deflector roller 38, and the feeder will then return the plates or sheets through between the rolls 70 of the mill for a further reduction. This cycle will be continued until the plates or sheets reach a predetermined length.

When the plates or sheets have been rolled out to the predetermined or finished length, the friction of the plate passing between the pinch rollers 78 and 79 will rotate the idler roller 7 9 a suflicient number of revolutions to cause the rack 117 to trip the switch 119.

thus energizing the automatic reversing mechanism 120 and reversing the motor 105 so as to reverse the direction of rotation of the rollers Y, causing them to rotate in a clockwise direction and carry the plate forwardly off of the catcher.

When the plate has passed from between the pinch rollers 78 and 79, the rack 117 will fall by gravity and permit the switch 119 to reset for the next operation. However, once the switch 119 has been tripped the motor 105 will remain reversed, due to the dash-pot control on the switch 122, which will hold the switch 122 closed a sufficient length of time for the plate to be conveyed forwardly oil the catcher.

From the above it will be readily seen that the operation of handling the plates or sheets from the time the blank enters the heating furnace until the time it has had several 1 passes through the hot mill and has been reduced to finished gage and length is entirely mechanical.

The hot mill rolls 70 must be trued-up or dressed frequently in order to produce sheets or plates of equal gage, and since this operation is performed on the entering side of the mill it is necessary to remove the feeder C during the dressing operation. \Vhen it is desired to remove the feeder C, the forward part of the table B will be raised to the position shown in dotted lines in the drawings, and the clutch 58 will be-engaged so as to cause the motor 40 to drive the front axle 56 and propel the feeder C rearwardly away from the mill. After the rolls 7 O are dressed the feeder C will be returned to its operative position and the forward portion of the table B will be lowered to its normal osition.

While I have shown and escribed one specific embodiment of my invention it will, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim- 1. The combination with a sheet hot mill, of a continuous heating furnace for supplying heated sheets to said mill, a conveying table for receiving the heated sheets from said furnac an automatic mechanical feeding table for feeding the sheets into the bite of the hot mill rolls, an automatic mechanical catcher on the exit side of said mill for receiving the rolled sheets and returning said sheets over said mill to said feeding table and means on said feeding table for deflecting said sheets returned over saidmill so as to cause said 2 sheets to fall substantially fiatwise onto said feeding table.

2. The combination with a sheet hot mill, of a continuous heating furnace for supplying heated sheets to said mill, a conveying table for receiving the heated sheets from said furnace, an automatic mechanical feeding table for feeding the sheets into the bite of the hot mill rolls, said feeding table including a plu rality of power operated conveying rollers so inclined downwardly toward said mill so as to feed said sheets by combined gravity and power, an automatic mechanical catcher on the exit side of said mill for receiving the rolled so "eets and returning said sheets over said mill to said feeding table and a deflecting roller journaled in supports on the entering side of said mill at a point materially above the bite of the rolls of said mill for deflecting said sheets returned over said mill so as to d cause said sheets to fall substantially flatwise onto said feeding table.

/ 3. The combination with a sheet hot mill, ofa continuous heating furnace for supplying heated sheets to said mill, a conveying table for receiving the heated sheets from said furnace, an automatic mechanical feeding table for feeding the sheets into the bite of the hot mill rolls, said feeding table including a plurality of power 0 erated conveying rollers inclined downwar' 1y toward said mill so, as to feed said sheets by combined gravity and power, and an automatic mechanical catcher on the exit side of said mill for catching and gaging the rolled sheets, said catcher being adapted to return all sheets" under a predetermined gage to said feeding table for rerolling.

4. The combination with a sheet hot mill, of

a continuous heating furnace for supplying 00 heated sheets to said mill, a conveying table for receiving the heated sheets from said furnace, an automaticmechanical feeding table for feeding the sheets into the bite of the hot mill rolls, and an automatic me- 06 chanical catcher on the exit side of said mill for receiving the rolled sheets and returning said sheets over said mill to said feeding table, said conveying table being divided at a point intermediate its ends, and the parts of said table being hingedly connected so as to permit the part of said table nearest the mill to be raised out of the path of said feeding table, and said feeding table being adapted to'be moved rearwardly when said conveying table is elevated so as to permit access to the rolls of said mill.

'5. The combination with a sheet hot mill, of a continuous heatin furnace for supplying heated sheets to sai mill, a conveying table for receiving the heated sheets from said furnaces, an automatic mechanical feeding table ing and gagging, the rolled sheets, said catcher being adapted tb return all sheets under a pre J determined gage to said feeding table for rerolling.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ARTHUR R. MCARTHUR. 

